Ron Hardin


As a designer, Ron Hardin is very active and closely connected with the pageantry activity. Ron has designed hundreds of shows for bands, drum lines, winter guards and drum corps. Annually, he designs for a select amount of groups around the country.

Ron is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the world, having done many clinics throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. Since 1999, Ron has served as a visual judge for Winter Guard International, annually adjudicating for many circuits, regionals and world championships. Ron has performed judging clinics for NMEA, NSBA, WGI, several indoor percussion circuits and the Judging Association of Mid America.

His designs have appeared in several BOA regional finals, won numerous state championships, circuit contests and have won two WGI Percussion Gold Medals. As an instructor, Ron has been a part of teams earning five DCI World Championships and several High Visual Awards.

Ron's experience in the drum corps activity is extensive, spanning over twenty years. As a performer, he spent the 1991 and 1992 seasons with the Star of Indiana. Upon the completion of his performing career, Ron joined the Blue Devils as a member of their visual staff for eight seasons and later spent five years as the Visual Caption Head of the Santa Clara Vanguard. Currently Ron serves as the Visual Caption Head of the Canton Bluecoats. In addition to instructing, Ron has designed visual programs for Yamato, Pride of the Lions, Magic of Orlando and Minnesota Brass. He has also served as Visual Coordinator for the Blue Stars. Ron is currently an instructor representative on the DCI Instructors' Task Force.

In everyday life, Ron Hardin is currently the Director of Bands at Bellevue East High School. Ron took this position in 2000, and has led the Chieftains to many successful performances in all areas, including Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Bands, Indoor and Concert Percussion, Chamber Ensembles and Indoor Color Guard. Under his watch, the band programs have performed in ten different states.

Ron also has extensive history as a professional music educator and performer. He was the founder and past conductor of the Diablo Wind Symphony, and was the Director of Bands at Clayton Valley High School in Concord, CA for six years where served as President of the Contra Costa County Band Director's Association and Vice-President and Contest Coordinator of the Western Band Association. In addition, he was the recipient of the Jack R. Snyder Young Band Director's Award. Currently, Ron is the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Marching Band Chair. When he is not teaching or conducting, Ron finds time to play bass trombone with several ensembles. His greatest pride and joy is his family: his wife Molly, and their daughters Emma and Celeste.